Mickelson happy to stay on the boil

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New Augusta? As good as always

Duval driven by just one thought

Apart from the annual rodeo event and the odd rowing regatta, Augusta is really only known for its annual hosting of the Masters. Once though, the old town on the banks of the Savannah River, marking the border between Georgia and South Carolina, was a fashionable winter retreat for the well-to-do of Atlanta.

It was for this reason that Bobby Jones, a favourite son of Atlanta, was in the habit of visiting Augusta and eventually decided to locate his golf course there. In Atlanta, around 150 miles to the west and at a higher altitude, the winters are not so kind and even early in April the weather cannot be relied upon.

Since the BellSouth Classic, at the TPC of Sugarloaf in the northern suburbs of Atlanta, was slotted into the schedule in the week before the Masters the event has suffered disruptions accordingly. This week, with cold nights but sunny days, has been kinder. The cut was made on Friday night for the first time since 1997. Last year, 36 holes were played on the final day and while Scott McCarron was the victor, Davis Love vowed never to come back.

Love did return but he missed the cut. Sugarloaf was designed by Greg Norman, who miraculously found a way of producing 18 holes on an otherwise mountainous housing estate, albeit one where the homes cost $1 million. A typical American buggy course, it is an arduous walk and few of those involved in the final-day marathon last year figured at Augusta.

But while the likes of Tiger Woods, who has never played the week before Augusta, and David Duval, who won here three years ago, skipped the event, others find it a useful warm up for the Masters. Phil Mickelson, who beat Gary Nicklaus in a play-off in 2000 when the final round was washed out, shared the lead with Steve Elkington after 36 holes, while Padraig Harrington and Retief Goosen were a shot behind on 10-under.

Harrington, in only his fifth event of the season, thinks the fast greens and the accent on precise approach shots makes it good preparation for Augusta. The 30-year-old Dubliner also feels his concentration is getting towards the level he will need at the first major of the year. "Being near the lead certainly helps," he said. "It's a bit of adrenaline I needed. It feels like a new experience.

"We are all trying to get ready for Augusta," Harrington added, "but I'm treating this as a tournament in itself. I'm not on a level where you can predict when you're going to play well. Tiger's on the level where he's looking at the majors, I'm here doing my utmost to win."

After all his second places in 2001, capped by a win at the Volvo Masters, Harrington will take his victories where he can get them. A man to get his timing only slightly wrong in winning the week before Augusta was Lee Westwood, the New Orleans champion in 1998. Westwood made the cut with birdies at three of the last four holes to allow himself the rare luxury of an additional two extra rounds.

After flirting with missing the cut at the Players' and in Houston last week, Colin Montgomerie safely made it through and might have had a second successive 69 had he not missed a short putt at the last. On the same hole, Harrington picked up his second eagle of the day in his 65.

A par five, the 18th here is a dogleg to the right that sweeps sharply downhill and leaves a tempting second shot over water. "I love 18," said Mickelson, who birdied the hole on the first two days. "It reminds me of the 15th at Augusta. Eagle is possible, a birdie is very likely but bogey and double are also very possible."